Innie or Outie

Here’s another original home cooked meal idea, Make Ahead Carrot Soup Brunch:

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This is another “from scratch” meal. I prefer to keep the skin on the soup veggies for the added nutritional and fiber benefits. This method tends to make the soups a bit thicker than usual. Also, a regular pot method can be used if you prefer to not make the soup ahead of time.

Equipment and All Ingredients Needed

1 Crockette 1 Strainer 1 Knife 1 Cutting board 1 Cookie cutter 1 Blender/processor
1 Microwavable container with lid 1 Microwave 2 Frying pans 2 Stovetop burners

7 Frozen shrimp

4 Cherry tomatoes

2 Slices bread

1 Spanish olive

1 Large carrot

1 Thin slice white onion

¼ Cucumber

1½ Cups milk

1½ Cups cream

1½ Cups frozen karashina (mustard greens)

2 Tablespoons butter

2 Tablespoons sesame oil

1 Tablespoon leek

1 Tablespoon mayonnaise

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 Tablespoon minced garlic paste

1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar

3 Teaspoons white pepper

1 Teaspoon minced ginger paste

1 Teaspoon powdered marjoram

1 Teaspoon dried oregano flakes

1 Teaspoon cracked black sesame seeds

1 Teaspoon chicken broth granules

½ Teaspoon powdered thyme

¼ Teaspoon anise seed

¼ Teaspoon horseradish

Iceberg lettuce

Fresh radish sprouts (kaiware)

Fresh parsley sprigs

View video with further details.

Here’s another simple and tasty original slow-cooked dish, Crockpot Honey-Raisin Pork Dinner:

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Equipment and All Ingredients Needed

1 Crockette 1 Strainer 1 Knife 1 Cutting board
1 Microwavable container with lid 1 Microwave 1 Frying pan 1 Stovetop burner

1 Pound pork roast

4 Medium new potatoes

4 Cherry tomatoes

4 Whole cloves

1 Large slice white onion

1 Large fresh basil leaf

¼ Cucumber

½ Cup white wine

¼ Cup raisins

¼ Cup sesame oil

2 Tablespoons honey

2 Tablespoons white pepper

1 Tablespoon whole grain mustard

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 Tablespoon cornstarch

1 Teaspoon minced garlic paste

1 Teaspoon dried thyme flakes

¼ Teaspoon powdered sage

Iceberg lettuce

Salad dressing of choice

Dried oregano flakes

Fresh parsley sprigs

View brief video with further details

Here’s an original home cooked meal made from scratch (except the bread), Creamy Potato Soup Dinner:

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Although there seems to be an enormous amount of ingredients (this is from scratch), the meal really is a simple to make.

Equipment and All Ingredients Needed

1 Small container with lid 1 Strainer 1 Knife 1 Cutting board
1 Microwavable container with lid 1 Microwave 1 Blender Toothpicks
1 Medium pot 1 Small frying pan 2 Stovetop burners 1 Toaster

5 Medium new potatoes

8 Frozen shrimp

4 Cherry tomatoes

2 Spanish olives

1 Slice whole wheat bread

1 Slice bacon

1 Slice American cheese

1 Slice white onion

¼ Cucumber

1 Cup milk

1 Cup cream

3 Tablespoons olive oil

2 Tablespoons butter

1 Tablespoon leek

1 Tablespoon white pepper

1 Teaspoon mayonnaise

1 Teaspoon dried oregano flakes

½ Teaspoon minced garlic paste

½ Teaspoon minced ginger paste

½ Teaspoon nutmeg

¼ Teaspoon horseradish

¼ Teaspoon dried basil flakes

¼ Teaspoon dried thyme flakes

¼ Teaspoon dried parsley flakes

Iceberg lettuce

Grated parmesan cheese

Croutons

View video with further details.

This past week has been a busy one and we haven’t had much time for getting creative in the kitchen. Finding a free moment (due to a rainy day), hubby finally had a chance to give stew meat a bit of a twist, Papa’ s Beef ‘n Taters:

For the meal, hubby tenderized, sliced, and sautéed stewing beef in olive oil; added whole grain mustard, classic mustard, red wine, white pepper, minced garlic paste, and canned mushrooms; then simmered until sauce was reduced. The potatoes were sliced, microwaved, then sautéed with olive oil and fresh chopped chives; a bit of spinach and a small salad of iceberg lettuce, quartered cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, scallion, creamy cheese dressing and dried oregano flakes completed the meal.

Here’s another quick and simple meal for those busy days, Turkey-Rice Dinner:

The meal consisted of canned turkey chili on leftover recooked rice topped with melted cheddar cheese and fresh basil; an iceberg lettuce, cucumber, scallion, and cherry tomato salad topped with creamy cheese dressing, bacon bits, grated parmesan cheese and dried oregano flakes; and toasted whole wheat dinner roll slices with garlic paste.

An absolutely scrumptous dish by hubby, Papa’s Savory Chicken Sauté:

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Included in this meal by hubby was chicken sautéed in sesame oil and chopped fresh garlic and parsley with a chicken bouillon granule and sour cream sauce; sautéed bell pepper, carrot, and green cherry tomatoes; a whole wheat dinner roll, and an iceberg, cucumber, cherry tomato salad with creamy cheese dressing and dried oregano flakes.

Hubby is back in the western-style phase and came up with this meal,

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For the meal hubby smothered sautéed beef strips in leftover demi-glase sauce with minced garlic paste; then added steamed fresh asparagus, baked potato with sour cream. a whole wheat dinner roll, and a small salad of iceberg lettuce, arugula, scallion, bacon bits, and hubby’s homegrown cherry tomatoes topped with a creamy cheese dressing.

This home cooked meal could be called a variety pack of small portions, Mini Meal:

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This non-bento mini portions meal consisted of a mini pizza made with a six-inch toasted tortilla topped with olive oil, minced garlic paste, curried shrimp bits, chopped fresh homegrown basil and cherry tomatoes, dried oregano flakes, and Parmesan cheese; a small salad of iceberg lettuce, chopped fresh home grown basil and cherry tomatoes, and bacon bits topped with creamy cheese dressing and chopped chives; leftover PineNut Pasta with chopped homegrown cherry tomatoes; and canned chunk-style minestrone soup with mixed beans and pasta.

Hubby whipped up another quick and filling meal, Papa’s Tomato-Pork Dinner:

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This meal by hubby consisted of olive oil, sliced white onion, spicy pork sausage, frozen grilled Mediterranean vegetable mix, canned diced tomatoes with sauce, white pepper, and parmesan cheese; home grown arugula and cherry tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, scallions, julienned cucumber, dried oregano flakes, and creamy cheese dressing; and a whole wheat dinner roll.

This is another of hubby’s delish home cooked meals similar to the dinner he prepared in December, Papa’s Spicy Spaghetti Dinner:

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This time hubby used olive oil, julienned spicy pork sausage, fresh Eringi and Shitake mushrooms, red and green bell peppers, and white onion with fresh chopped basil, spaghetti, and grated parmesan cheese. To acompany the dish, a salad of iceberg lettuce, white onion, arugula, salad greens, and chopped cherry tomatoes with a creamy sesame dressing.